28 Aug 2017, Lev 1 利1章, The Burnt Offering 燔祭

Posted on Aug 25, 2017 in Devotions, Leviticus |

Scripture Reading    : Lev 1

Theme                        : The Burnt Offering

 

The name of this book means “pertaining to the Levites.” Exodus and Leviticus were guidebooks for the priests in their ministry. Israel today has neither priesthood nor temple, so the nation cannot obey these laws (Hos. 3:4), but Leviticus has great value to the Christian. It illustrates the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and stresses the importance of a life of separation and obedience.

The book emphasizes sacrifice (chaps. 1–10), for man must deal with his sins if he expects to have fellowship with a holy God. These five sacrifices are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and portray His perfect life and atoning work on the cross (Heb. 10:1–14).
Leviticus also emphasizes separation (chaps. 11–24), for a redeemed people should walk in God’s holy will. These various laws touch on many aspects of everyday life and illustrate principles of holy living that God’s children should follow today.
Finally, since God anticipated the nation’s entrance into the Promised Land, He gave them some rules for success (chaps. 25–27). The land was theirs because of God’s covenant, but they could enjoy it only if they obeyed God’s will. Obedience by faith always brings blessing.[1]

Praying the Scripture

  1. The Burnt Offering is so called because it required that the animal be completely consumed by the fire. (1:9). The laying of hands, a symbolic gesture, pictures the transfer of sin to the sacrificial animal and was likely done with a prayer of repentance and request for forgiveness (cf. Ps 51:18, 19). And the purpose is to make atonement on his behalf. (Lev 1:4). This was a substitutionary sacrifice that prefigured the ultimate substitute—Jesus Christ (cf. Is 53; see note on 2Co 5:21). Let’s thank God for the solution to our sins.
  2. The killing and butchering of the sacrificial animals after laying of hands gives a vivid and dramatic visual of the consequences of sin (cf. v. 6). Do you see the horrific nature of sins? Therefore, Paul teaches us to put to death the deeds of the body. (Rom 8:13) Let’s pray that the Lord shows us how horrific our sins are and that we will butcher the sins in our lives.
  3. The priest had to collect the blood in a basin and then offer it to God as a sacrifice to indicate that a life had been taken. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. (Lev 1:5) Let’s thank God for we were once far off but have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:13)

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991).

 
 
 

经文：利1章

主题： 燔祭

 

这卷书名意思是“有关利未人。”出埃及记和利未记皆是祭司事工上的指南。今天的以色列既无祭司也无圣殿，所以无法继续遵守这些律法（何3:4），但利未记仍对基督徒而言有很大的价值。它代表了耶稣基督在十字架上的工作，也着重分别为圣和顺服生活的重要性。

本书强调献祭（1-10章），因人必须正视自己的罪恶，才可与圣洁的神相通。这五个祭都在耶稣基督里得成就，并彰显了祂完全的生命，以及十字架上救赎之工（希10:1-14）。

利未记也强调了分别为圣的生活（11-24章），因蒙救赎的人当行在神的旨意里。这些法律都涉及了各方的日常生活，也叙述神儿女今日当遵从的原则，过一个圣洁的生活。

最后，神既然预知以色列必踏入应许之地，所以祂赐给百姓一些成功之道（25-27章）。因着神立的约，这地必属以色列，但他们若想享受这等福分，他们必须遵行神的旨意。信靠顺服之人必蒙祝福。


用经文祷告

  1. 所谓燔祭是因为祭司必须把燔祭牲全烧在坛上（1:9）。在燔祭牲头上按手是一个象征性的表现，意味罪已转移至燔祭牲，且伴同忏悔的祷告寻求宽恕（诗51:18，19）；这目的是要代那人赎罪（利1:4）。燔祭预示了日后最终的赎罪祭——耶稣基督（参见赛53；见附注 林后5:21）。让我们感谢神为我们的罪所赐下了解决方法。
  2. 在按手之后，祭司必须宰杀燔祭牲，将皮剥去，切成块子（参见 第6节）；这画面贴切地反映了罪的后果。你看见罪恶的可怕吗？所以，保罗教导我们要治死身体的恶行（罗8:13）。让我们祈祷，求神让我们得见罪的可恶，愿意斩断自己生命中的罪。
  3. 祭司把血收进盆里，然后将它献上给神，以示一条生命已被牺牲。之后，祭司也把血洒在会幕门口、坛的周围（利1:5）。让我们感谢神，因从前我们是远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了（弗2:13）。